The Spanish wire service EFE reports that Patiño said Assange is at the embassy and made his plea in a letter to President Rafael Correa, making clear that he was under threat of "persecution."

The AP adds:

"The move comes less than a week after Britain's Supreme Court rejected Assange's bid to reopen his extradition case.

"Assange is wanted for questioning in Sweden after two women accused him of sexual misconduct during a visit to the country in mid-2010."

Assange came to prominence after WikiLeaks leaked the biggest cache of classified government information in U.S. history.

Ecuador is part of an eight-nation group of leftist Latin American countries known as the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA for its Spanish initials). Along with Venezuela, ALBA countries have antagonized Western powers like the United States.

EFE reports that Patiño read the letter from Assange to reporters. Assange said that his country of birth, Australia, has said that it will not defend his rights.

"Death threats, economic boycotts and the possibility that I was be turned over to U.S. authorities by Britain, Switzerland or Australia have made me seek political asylum and protection in Ecuador. That will permit me to continue my mission in a peaceful territory," Patiño said Assange wrote.

Patiño said Assange says he persecuted for publishing truth that compromises the powerful.

Update at 3:21 p.m. ET. Under Protection Of Embassy:

In a statement, the Embassy of Ecuador in London said Assange is now at the Embassy "under the protection of the Ecuadorian Government."

It said that as "a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights" it has an "obligation to review all applications for asylum."

"The decision to consider Mr Assange's application for protective asylum should in no way be interpreted as the Government of Ecuador interfering in the judicial processes of either the United Kingdom or Sweden."